The Anambra State government has rescued one Ms. Tania Ijeoma Okpala, a former US-based tennis champion who was found wandering the streets of the state capital.
Okpala was over the weekend captured in a viral video on social media by a good spirited member of the public.
Ms. Okpala looked distressed and unstable in the said video, prompting the quick response by the Anambra State Government to rescue, rehabilitate, and reunite her with her family.
According to the Women Affairs Commissioner, Ify Obinabo, the ministry swung into action after receiving a directive from Governor Chukwuma Soludo and the wife.
A statement on the ministry’s social media page said, “while interacting with Tania over the phone, Mrs Soludo assured her that the state government will not forsake her and informed her that she would get the best treatment and rehabilitation to enable her to bounce back.
“Mrs Soludo further assured her that the state government will ensure her full recovery and re-integration into society.
“While explaining her ordeal to the first lady, Ms Okpala who hails from Nkpologwu in Aguata Local Government Area area of the state said she’s a US-based tennis champion but due to bad peer influence became a crack cocaine addict.
“She also explained that she had the best of education in and outside the country.
“Ms Okpala, whose mother was from Belarus, said she lost her mother to cancer a few years ago and ever since has not been able to get over her demise.”
The statement added that the former US-based tennis champion has a 6-year-old daughter currently staying with her father in Nkpologwu.
She urged the governor’s wife to help her reunite with her daughter.